Some of you may remember the days when your parents said, 'Go out and play. I'll call you for lunch.'
We made up games, played stick-ball, tag, puzzles, baseball in the street, climbed trees, made snow forts, played hide and seek, sang Girl Scout songs and a bunch of other things. We were safe, and we were free to be kids. You had chores to do (I had to practice the piano every day, and Neal and I did the supper dishes.) But every minute did not have to be filled with activities because it wasn't safe to play in the street or in the vacant lot a couple houses down. You could play until after sundown. And then you'd hear your parents say, 'Lynnnnnnn. Time to come in.'
Though it is unsafe and dangerous not far from us, St. Michael's compound is locked in every way possible. Guard at the front gate, the other two entrances are locked permanently. Within the compound is the church, the Bishop's house, an administrative building which includes a meeting room for larger gatherings. There are two sets of guest rooms which are rented to visitors. I mentioned that one is two floors high and the second story has a huge sewing room. Both of my salwar kamees were made there. There are already roses and Bassu makes sure the dahlias get 'dahlia food.' There are marigolds everywhere.
There are two libraries, one for students with textbooks in English and Bengali and one for the rest of us. Many historical and theological books. I suspect some priceless editions are in there. There is a TV room which has BBC news and an interesting assortment of English, Hindi and Bengali TV. I think there are 102 channels. This is all accessible within a block's walk.
I think I told you before that there is a cement playground 50x50 surrounded on two sides by the school and the hostel. There are two trees at the edge of the playground. The school goes from Nursery to grade 7 or 8 (15). That's also where the children's kitchen is, the computer room and the children's library. The children get 4 nutritious meals a day, and 25 of them live on the second floor in the hostel, boys and girl's rooms. It reminds me of summer camp except there are 10 sets of bunk beds in each room. Each child has many chores: they have to keep their beds made, their trunk orderly, wash at the same time, eat meals together, brush their teeth twice a day and study together. There's a middle commons room where they eat and watch THEIR tv. There are loud bells which tell them when to get up, when it's time for breakfast and when they are supposed to go to bed. There is only one older boy and about 4 older girls and all the rest are younger. They take care of one another. They have a housemother (Aunty) who makes them toe the line. They are a large extended family, and they make sure no one is left out.
There are also children who come for the after school program, with English, Hindi, dance, music, my choir, etc.
That's 4:30-6:30 with excellent volunteer teachers. They have a meal and then go home to their families. My little God-child Mitali, 4, goes home after supper. She wears this adorable hunter green cardigan and runs around with all the other children. All are in sweaters, because for them it's cold (60). There is a lot of play time in between activities and before meals. There are swings and a slide. To see them play so joyful
and laugh so much and run around chasing each other reminds me of when I was a kid. We're a close community here with 'tough love' and pure love. They line up before school and sing Christian songs, and sing Christian songs before and after TV. There's singing somewhere all the time. They are from Hindu families, but they sure know a lot of Christian songs.
This is community living as I remember it. I can no longer go fastfastfast, nor do I want to.
Only the Bishop knows how to go fastfastfast, and even he just came down with a bad cold.
THINGS mostly bore me and do not contribute to the quality of my life.
I will tell you when I don't want this pace of life any more. Right now it's exactly as I want it to be, And I thank God for it every day.
We made up games, played stick-ball, tag, puzzles, baseball in the street, climbed trees, made snow forts, played hide and seek, sang Girl Scout songs and a bunch of other things. We were safe, and we were free to be kids. You had chores to do (I had to practice the piano every day, and Neal and I did the supper dishes.) But every minute did not have to be filled with activities because it wasn't safe to play in the street or in the vacant lot a couple houses down. You could play until after sundown. And then you'd hear your parents say, 'Lynnnnnnn. Time to come in.'
Though it is unsafe and dangerous not far from us, St. Michael's compound is locked in every way possible. Guard at the front gate, the other two entrances are locked permanently. Within the compound is the church, the Bishop's house, an administrative building which includes a meeting room for larger gatherings. There are two sets of guest rooms which are rented to visitors. I mentioned that one is two floors high and the second story has a huge sewing room. Both of my salwar kamees were made there. There are already roses and Bassu makes sure the dahlias get 'dahlia food.' There are marigolds everywhere.
There are two libraries, one for students with textbooks in English and Bengali and one for the rest of us. Many historical and theological books. I suspect some priceless editions are in there. There is a TV room which has BBC news and an interesting assortment of English, Hindi and Bengali TV. I think there are 102 channels. This is all accessible within a block's walk.
I think I told you before that there is a cement playground 50x50 surrounded on two sides by the school and the hostel. There are two trees at the edge of the playground. The school goes from Nursery to grade 7 or 8 (15). That's also where the children's kitchen is, the computer room and the children's library. The children get 4 nutritious meals a day, and 25 of them live on the second floor in the hostel, boys and girl's rooms. It reminds me of summer camp except there are 10 sets of bunk beds in each room. Each child has many chores: they have to keep their beds made, their trunk orderly, wash at the same time, eat meals together, brush their teeth twice a day and study together. There's a middle commons room where they eat and watch THEIR tv. There are loud bells which tell them when to get up, when it's time for breakfast and when they are supposed to go to bed. There is only one older boy and about 4 older girls and all the rest are younger. They take care of one another. They have a housemother (Aunty) who makes them toe the line. They are a large extended family, and they make sure no one is left out.
There are also children who come for the after school program, with English, Hindi, dance, music, my choir, etc.
That's 4:30-6:30 with excellent volunteer teachers. They have a meal and then go home to their families. My little God-child Mitali, 4, goes home after supper. She wears this adorable hunter green cardigan and runs around with all the other children. All are in sweaters, because for them it's cold (60). There is a lot of play time in between activities and before meals. There are swings and a slide. To see them play so joyful
and laugh so much and run around chasing each other reminds me of when I was a kid. We're a close community here with 'tough love' and pure love. They line up before school and sing Christian songs, and sing Christian songs before and after TV. There's singing somewhere all the time. They are from Hindu families, but they sure know a lot of Christian songs.
This is community living as I remember it. I can no longer go fastfastfast, nor do I want to.
Only the Bishop knows how to go fastfastfast, and even he just came down with a bad cold.
THINGS mostly bore me and do not contribute to the quality of my life.
I will tell you when I don't want this pace of life any more. Right now it's exactly as I want it to be, And I thank God for it every day.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. There are dangers, I admit, but there is no room for other choices. The bottom bunks are taken first, of course.
ReplyDeleteThe set up sounds alot like the church here, but alot bigger. We dont have guards though, we used to--now we cant afford them. I hope everything is alright with you Lynn
ReplyDelete